Feature: Easy Kids Recipes

The Easy Kids Recipes site was created in 2003 by Clarissa Camus.  The site features simple recipes that are geared toward busy families, with an emphasis on child and parent cooking.  Clarissa shares her own family’s recipes and welcomes additions from other parents.  We interviewed Clarissa on what inspired her to create the Easy Kids Recipes site.

Could you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in Oklahoma and the first recipe I made on my own was an apple pie I made in eighth grade for a history presentation.  I got flour all over the counters but I had so much fun and the pie was delicious!  I now have four children of my own and I get so much pleasure cooking for them and cooking with them.  I love everything about food, from preparing to cooking, and of course, eating a good meal with my family.  I enjoy reading and learning about health and nutrition and how this affects children.

What was the inspiration behind creating easy-kids-recipes.com?

Back in 2003, when I was pregnant with my fourth child, I was looking for kid-friendly recipes on the Internet. At that time there weren't any websites around that I could find that had recipes especially for kids.  So I saw there was a need out there.  I love cooking for my kids and so does my husband.  I decided to share all of the recipes we cook at home, including recipes that had been handed down over the years by my mother, my grandmother, aunts, etc. - all the recipes I loved as a child.  Many recipes on the website can be cooked by kids, and I am very happy to play a part in inspiring kids to cook and to share their creative ideas with other kids. I meet so many mothers with a busy lifestyle who find it difficult to cook for their families; this was another inspiration for starting a website that would help busy people prepare quick and healthy meals.

What can readers find on the easy-kids-recipes.com?

On the Easy Kids Recipes website, you can find a lot of home cooking recipes.  These are recipes that are easy to make for the family.  Most recipes are pretty healthy and use healthy ingredients, still keeping the idea of "easy" in mind.  I've been told by visitors that the recipes are also good for adult beginner cooks (not just for kids).  There are some articles with cooking tips and advice. I run cooking contests that give parents and kids an opportunity to share their recipes with the whole Easy Kids Recipes community and to have a chance to win a prize. The community enjoys trying out these new recipes, commenting on them, and rating them for the contests.  I also have an RSS feed for those who want to get the new recipes that have been added to the website each day and a newsletter with helpful cooking hints and food facts.

What are your favorite things to cook/bake with your kids?

I love to bake. My 13 year old daughter has become quite a baker since she started baking when she was 8. We love baking cakes, breads, and cookies, especially on special occasions such as birthdays and holidays.

I love winter food such as soups and baked dinners.  I also love breakfast recipes and whipping up a good meal on Saturday morning with my kids.

If you could summarize the message of your site into one quote, what would it be?

The main message is "fun and healthy cooking for kids and the whole family with easy recipes."